Windber Medical Center

WIN 2014

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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S P I R I T
WALK THE GREEN AND BLUE
When was the last time you took a long hike through
nature? A study commissioned by the health charity
Mind suggests that hiking directly contributes to improved
mental and emotional health. They discovered that
walking in the countryside decreased
depression levels for 71 percent
of the hikers, while 50 percent of
those who walked inside a
mall said their feelings of
tension had INCREASED.
Get outside. Experience the
joy and colors of nature while
improving your heart health,
lung capacity, immune system,
glucose control and even your sense
of how happy you are with your life. The American
Hiking Society has a fun and educational website that
will make you want to buy a new pair of walking shoes
and hit the trails. www.americanhiking.org
CROMOTHERAPY FOR OUR HEALTH
C E N T R A L
consider painting it a zestful orange or a cool-down blue.
Surround yourself with colors that make you feel better.
Don't forget the power of art and floral "therapy" as
well. What we see and smell has a powerful effect on
how we feel.
NEW LIPSTICK FOR
A RENEWED YOU
There is no denying the research that shows when we
treat ourselves right with a little
pampering and self-care, our
physical and emotional health
improves. Just feeling confident can produce endorphins
and "happy" hormone neurotransmitters like serotonin
that can decrease our blood pressure and improve our
immune system. Take a trip to the hairdresser or the
makeup counter. Try out the
season's hot colors. Have fun,
pamper yourself with color, and
be your healthiest self now.
Color therapy, also known as cromotherapy, is the use of
color to affect our mental and physical health. What color
would motivate you to work out more? Red? Orange?
Yellow? Buy workout clothes and
fitness gear in appealing bright
colors to get happy. If you have
a "fitness room" in your house,
w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m
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SPI RIT O F WOM EN
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